St. Landry democrat., 1887-07-09
SEASIDE COTTAGE.
Scenes and Sojourners at a Pleasant Sum-
mer Resort Near Boston.
BY JENNY JUNE.


tCopyrighted, 1871
Names are often misnOmers this is not
The cottage in which | am writing has thu
sea on almost every side Of it, and week OF
two weeks, with the salt-sea air blowing ir
at every windows is an ocean tri p without the
discomfort and with the great events of ar
ocean voyage, viz, the sight Of great steam
ers and the sight of land thrown in. For we
are here on the bay as well as the sea, and
no ship leaves Boston harbor that does not
sail majestically past Seaside Cottage and
fling salute from its pennant to the eyes
that watch it from the beach or the window
Hull is now a summer resort, constantly
growing in importance because of its near
ness to BostOn-less than an hours sail-but
was once little ishing-village, occupying
an island of itself, and quite isolated, not
only from the mainland of Boston, but
from that which now forms the rest of the
promontory, and known as the "South
Shore" This shOre-line constitutes the
beach Of Nantasket and upon it are the
towns of bingham, Cohasset, and the COney
Island collection of hotels, pavilions, and
clearinghouse of Nantasket. There was
always "bar" between Hull and Nantasket,
but it was generally covered with water and
was only an obstacle to boats, wagons and
pedestrians. But violent' storm arose
and blew and drifted sand and stones to
such good purpose that when it was over
the roadway was found to have been formed
upon the bar and the permanent connection
established, which has since made one town
ship of Hull and Nantasket, and gives to the
residents of the latter, our summer guests,
an unbroken beach-side of five or six miles
upon firm and smooth sand, and diversified
by curious and unusual blending of wide
sea views, the breaking of the waters upon
the shore, and an English greenness of grass
and trees and vine-covered walls.
Where you land at Hull there is a pretty
clubhouse with broad piazzas from which
the members and their friends watch the
progress of regattas, and where once in two
weeks hop is given, which brings out the
pretty girls staying at the hotels-and
naturally the young men. On the sides of
the one street from the landing are the
hotels, the shops, and the postofice, the
former supplemented during the summer by
dealers who come from Boston with tempt
ing confectionery and the like, but not as
yet with painted plaques and city millinery
The shade hats and deep pokes occupy a
glass case in the grocery stores, and vary
from ten to twenty-five cents each. thought
one for the latter sum. trimmed it with
blue sauze veil, and put it on while waiting
f5r change" The "swell' summer cottages
are upon Snow hill, which commands
magnificent near and distant view, and an
active and ever-changing panorama.
In cosy nook, near the bend of the road,
where you turn down to the shore road,
stands cottage painted yellow, with brown
tiled roof, which is the summer home of the
Boston poet-John Boyle OReilly-and his
family. 1t is closed now, for the summer
residents remain in town for the sake of it's
early peas and strawberries, salad and as
paragus, and do not put in an appearance
until the first of July, just in time to escape
city pistol-shooting and fre-crackers. Hull
is proverbially healthy, and the proof of it
is thastin pretty house little further along
lives an elderly resident-a man of seventy
seven years-who a year ago married com
paratively young wife and is now the proud
and happy father of fine boy.
The road skirts the foot of hill, which |
separates the village from the shore, and at
the foot ofthe water side of this hill stands
Seaside" Cottage. The owner is lady,
Miss Floretta Vining, the only daughter
OF leather merchant of Boston, who made
his winter home in Quincy, his summer
home in Hull, and spent his life in accumu-
latlng. His daughter, who was devoted to
him while he lived, is now the second larg-
est property-owner in Hull, another lady,
Miss Sarah Jones, being the first. The policy
Oh Miss Jones is restrictive of Miss Vining,
expansive Miss Vining is well educated,
ana model woman proprietor. She main
eans large and handsome establishment,
and makes improvements which will benefit
the public as well as herself, and is full Of
IDEAS Tor laying out neglected grounds and
unused opportunities. SHE keeps
many persons employed, rising at five, and
getting through with her business CORE
'pondence before breakfast, which is at
seven. by half-past five she is often out in
inc nelds or on the chip with the men, di-
recting their operations for the day, or con-
sulting with her man of business as to the
"details of property, which the active de-
mand ana rise in prices have determined
her to put upon the market.
Miss Vining is not in her first youth,
put she is still young woman, with a /
inc figure and a bright, energetic face and
manners, which are very attractive. At pres
INT she IS as happily situated as woman can
% In this world, but the element of uncer-
a1nty about women makes it doubtful if she
will remain 30. When woman has done,
" is doing thing well, she usually stops
Icing it. 1t is great comfort, however, to